"Tiger, make some tea!"
With a new business prospect, Lu Fei naturally needed to handle it seriously.
"Sir, without knowing what kind of cursed object we're dealing with, no one can guarantee anything. Why don't you take a seat and explain it slowly?"
He walked out from behind the counter and politely gestured for the burly man to sit.
Liu Fugui, being perceptive, quickly vacated his seat.
The burly man sat down unceremoniously, while the bodyguard stood behind him with an imposing presence.
"Sir, here's your tea."
Tiger handed over a cup of tea, meeting the bodyguard's gaze for a brief moment.
Tiger, without showing any emotion, stepped back and stood behind Lu Fei, maintaining a steady posture that matched the bodyguard's aura.
"I'm Chen Jinfat. People on the streets respectfully call me Brother Fat," the man introduced himself, pointing his thumb at his own chest in a deep, gruff voice.
"So it's Brother Fat. Nice to meet you," Lu Fei nodded slightly.
People like Chen Jinfat cared the most about respect. As long as they were given enough, they were generally easy to deal with.
Lu Fei knew this and made sure to show due respect.
"I haven't been in the game for a while. Now I just do legitimate small businesses," Chen Jinfat said, pleased, with a humble smile. "Through a friend's introduction, I took on a small project rebuilding a shopping mall. During excavation, we dug up a small coffin."
"A small coffin?" Lu Fei raised an eyebrow.
Finding something during construction was not unusual; sometimes it was antiques, other times ancient tombs, and occasionally bizarre buried objects.
If they had unearthed a coffin, it might be related to an ancient burial.
"The coffin was only half a meter long, with a surface so red it looked as if it were stained with blood, and three nails were driven into its top," Chen Jinfat continued. "I've never seen such a strange coffin. What could it possibly hold?"
"A half-meter-long coffin? That's indeed rare," Lu Fei nodded, asking, "Did you open the coffin, Brother Fat?"
"The workers who dug it up didn't dare to touch it, so they called me over. I thought, what's there to fear in broad daylight? I ordered them to pry it open. Guess what was inside?" Chen Jinfat said mysteriously.
"What was it?" Lu Fei played along, showing curiosity.
"A tattered clay doll! It was already broken and pinned down by the nails. I had no idea what it was for, so I told the workers to toss it away," Chen Jinfat said with a look of frustration.
"But ever since that day, things haven't been right at the site. We couldn't get the foundation stable, and newly built walls would collapse after a short while. Changing technicians and foremen didn't help."
"If this delays my construction schedule, I'm in big trouble!"
"You think it's that small coffin causing the trouble?" Lu Fei asked.
"A tiny coffin like that, not even used for a proper burial, must be something foul. Otherwise, why would everything go smoothly before it was dug up, and then fall apart afterward?"
"Did you find anything else besides that small coffin?" Lu Fei asked again.
"Nothing, just that."
Lu Fei pondered. If that was the case, it probably wasn't related to an ancient tomb. The small coffin containing the clay doll could very well be a cursed object.
Chen Jinfat scrutinized Lu Fei's youthful face, his eyes betraying doubt.
"Kid, you look pretty young. Do you really know anything about yin-yang and feng shui?"
Liu Fugui immediately interjected, "Brother Fat, skills have nothing to do with age! Young Master Lu inherited Master Lu's legacy. His abilities in dealing with cursed objects are extraordinary! You must have heard of the Su family of Jiangcheng, right? Young Master Lu is their honored guest and has helped them resolve major issues."
Like a professional hype man, Liu Fugui's words left Chen Jinfat stunned.
"Is that true? The Su family, one of the top three families? This better not be a trick!"
"Why would I make this up?" Liu Fugui said with utmost sincerity. "Chairman Su Ligou personally hosted a dinner for us. You can ask around if you don't believe me."
"Is that so?"
Chen Jinfat squinted at Lu Fei, finding it hard to believe that this young man could be a seasoned master; he looked more like a pretty boy.
"Brother Fat, it's not as exaggerated as he says," Lu Fei quickly corrected, thinking Liu Fugui was laying it on too thick.
"Talking about skills means nothing if it's all words. I'd rather show you in action, right?"
"I like how straightforward you are!"
Chen Jinfat slapped his thigh and stood up.
"If we're all straight shooters here, come with me now. If you can handle that little coffin, I'll make sure you're well-rewarded!"
If this young man really had connections with the Su family, he must be capable, and Chen Jinfat decided to give it a try.
"Brother Fat, hold on. I have an important engagement tonight. What about tomorrow?" Lu Fei stood up as well.
"An engagement?" Chen Jinfat frowned. "I can't afford delays in my construction schedule! I was told Evil Pawnshop specializes in handling cursed items, so I came here first. If you're busy, I'll find someone else!"
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Brother Fat, but tonight's matter is urgent. Tiger, get my business card."
He had Tiger hand Chen Jinfat a card and sincerely said, "Brother Fat, I know that in big business, time is money."
"Please, go ahead and consult other experts first. If the problem gets resolved, I'll be happy for you."
"But if it doesn't, you can call me anytime. How does that sound?"
His response was impeccable, and Chen Jinfat couldn't help but take a second look at him, smiling as he pocketed the card. "You've got a way with words, kid. I'll take this. But I hope I don't have to call you tomorrow."
With that, he left with his bodyguard.
Liu Fugui tried to persuade him to stay, but didn't find the chance.
"Young Master Lu, why not take this job?" Liu Fugui asked, puzzled.
"Didn't I just say, I have something important tonight. Going with them would take too much time," Lu Fei said, shrugging as he began to organize his things.
He had to attend the ghost market that night, which only opened once every three months, so he couldn't afford to miss it.
"What's more important than making money?" Liu Fugui lamented.
"If I'd known, I would've handed out my own card too. Rich guys like him are easy to please and often very generous. I noticed he had quite a few bracelets on, so he's probably an antiques enthusiast too."
Tiger sneered, "Is there anything else on your mind besides money?"
"If I don't make money, how am I supposed to show my gratitude to Young Master Lu for saving my life?" Liu Fugui replied, self-assured.
"What about all the money you made before? Don't tell me you have nothing left!"
"Of course, I've used it for other things! Would I be stingy if I could give more?"
While the two bickered, Lu Fei had finished packing up.
"Tiger, time to go."
Tiger ignored Liu Fugui and asked, curious, "Boss, where are we headed?"